Defunct Baseball Teams Pins and Buttons

In 1998, the Will County Cheetahs of the Heartland League moved to Midlothian, IL, where they became the Cook County Cheetahs. Managed by Brian Dayett, they were 23-11 in the first half, a half-game behind the top Tennessee Tomahawks. They were last in the second half at 14-18 but stunned the Tomahawks in back-to-back games in the playoffs for the title. The Cheetahs were last in attendance (10,552) among the clubs that survived the season, the last for the league. All-Stars were 2B Neil Bradshaw (.264) and P Derek Santiago (8-3 with a league-leading 2.17 ERA).

The Okmulgee Drillers were a minor league baseball team that played in the Western Association from 1920 to 1927. They were based in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. In 1922, they played at Athletic Park, and from 1923 to 1927, they played at Petrolia Park. Under managers Whitey Hensling and Ed Brennan in 1920, the Drillers went 83-46, finishing first in the standings. They tied for the league championship that season. In 1921, they had three or four different managers. One source says they were managed by Frank Herriott, Harry Womack and Johnny Wuffli, while another says Ed Klepfer managed them as well. They finished seventh in the standings that season, going 71-76. Under managers Wuffli and Troy Agnew in 1922, the Drillers finish

Defunct Albany Polecats Baseball 1992-1995

In 1928, the Lindale Dragons resumed minor league play and finished last. Lindale resumed play as members of the reformed Class D level Georgia-Alabama League. Finishing the season in 6th place in the six–team league, the Dragons had a 26–62 record playing under manager Earl Donaldson. The Dragons finished 28.5 games behind 1st place Cedartown Sea Cows in the overall regular season standings.

The Cape Fear Crocs were a minor league baseball team in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They were a low Class-A baseball team which played in the South Atlantic League, and were a farm team of the Montreal Expos for the franchise's entire tenure as the Cape Fear Crocs. They played all of their home games at J. P. Riddle Stadium and were previously known as the Fayetteville Generals.

Defunct Memphis Blues Baseball 1968-1976

The Keokuk Pirates, a minor league baseball team, played in the Central Association and Central League between 1947 and 1949.

Defunct Nashville Vols Baseball 1901-1963

The Des Moines Demons were a minor league baseball team that was located in Des Moines, Iowa from 1925 to 1937 and 1959 to 1961. The teams played at Holcomb Park. The first professional night baseball game was played at Holcomb Park when the Demons played at home on May 2, 1930.

The Lockport Locks were a minor league baseball team based in Lockport, New York. The team began in 1942 as the Lockport White Sox, and affiliate of the Chicago White Sox in the Pennsylvania–Ontario–New York League, which is today the New York–Penn League. In 1943 the team changed affiliations with the Chicago-based major league clubs and became the Lockport Cubs. After spending 1945 as the Lockport White Socks, they were the Cubs again in 1946, however as an unaffiliated team. The team became affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds in 1947 and were renamed the Lockport Reds. A year later the club won the league title.

The Toledo White Stockings were a minor league baseball team based in Toledo, Ohio. In 1894 and 1895, Toledo teams played exclusively as members of the Class A level Western League. Toledo was known as the "Swamp Angels" in 1895, before the team relocated as the result of Blue laws. The Western League evolved to become today's American League in 1901. In 1895, the Toledo Swamp Angels continued play in the Western League, before the franchise relocated during the season. Some references have the team continuing under the "White Stockings" nickname in 1895.

The Bangor Blue Ox were a short-lived professional baseball team that played for two seasons in the independent Northeast League. At the time, Bangor (pop. 33,000) had not hosted pro baseball since prior to World War I. The team’s unique nickname derived from the legend of Paul Bunyan and his companion Babe, the Blue Ox. Bangor is one of several communities that claims to be the birthplace of the folkloric hero and the city bosts a 31-foot tall, 3,700-pount statue of Bunyan.

The Riverside Rubes/Dons were a minor league baseball team, based in Riverside, California that played in the Sunset League from 1947 to 1950.

Eckford of Brooklyn, or simply Eckford, was an American baseball club from 1855 to 1872. When the Union Grounds opened on May 15, 1862 for baseball in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, it became the first enclosed baseball grounds in America. Three clubs called the field on the corner of Marcy Avenue and Rutledge Street home; however, the Eckford of Brooklyn were the most famous tenant. They played more games than any other club that year (7) and won the "national" championship, repeating the feat in 1863. During that two year period, the Eckfords won 22 straight matches which was the longest undefeated and untied streak to date. In the late 1860s, they were one of the pioneering professional clubs, although probably second to Mutual of New York.

The Lynn Papooses, a minor league baseball team, played in the New England League between 1926 and 1930. The Lynn Red Sox continued Lynn's long history of play in the New England League. The Red Sox were preceded in the New England League play by the Lynn Lions (1886-1888), Lynn Live Oaks (1901), Lynn Shoemakers (1905–1910, 1913), Lynn Leonardites (1911–1912), Lynn Fighters (1914), Lynn Pirates (1915), Lynn Pipers (1916) and Lynn Papooses (1926–1930). The New England League Lynn teams were preceded in minor league play by the 1877 Lynn Live Oaks, who played as members of the New England Association and the 1884 Lynn team of the Massachusetts State Association.

Defunct Houston Buffaloes Baseball 1888-1961

The Connecticut Defenders were a Minor League Baseball team based in Norwich, Connecticut. The team, which played in the Eastern League, was the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major-league club from 2003 until following the 2009 season, when the Defenders relocated to Richmond, Virginia and are now known as the Richmond Flying Squirrels. The Defenders played in Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium, located in Norwich; opened in 1995, it seats 6,275 fans. The Defenders had been known as the Norwich Navigators from 1995 until October 2005. Prior to the 2003 season, the Navigators had been an affiliate of the New York Yankees.

The Middletown Mansfields were an early baseball team in Middletown, Connecticut that existed from 1866 to 1872. In the summer of 1866, a ballclub was established at Middletown's Douglas Pump Company by the factory owner's son, sixteen-year-old Ben Douglas Jr. Douglas named the team after his great-uncle General Joseph Mansfield, a Middletown native and Civil War hero. That year, they lost their first match to the Lincoln club of New Britain by a score of 50-1, but steadily improved thereafter; in 1869, Mansfield put up a 8-2 record, all against other Connecticut clubs.

Cheer On Your Chicago Federals!

Playing a partial season in 1931, the La Feria Nighthawks were a minor league baseball team based in La Feria, Texas. La Feria played as members of the Class D level Rio Grande Valley League in their only season of minor league play. The team was established when the Corpus Christi Seahawks franchise moved to La Feria during the season. The Nighthawks won the second–half pennant and lost in the league finals. La Feria played home games in Harlingen, Texas.

The Bassett Furnituremakers were a minor league baseball team based in Bassett, Virginia, USA that played from 1935 to 1940. Bassett was a member of the Bi-State League (1935–1940) and the Blue Ridge League (1950). Bassett was an affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers (1940), Cincinnati Reds (1939) and New York Yankees (1936–1937). Baseball Hall of Fame member Phil Rizzuto played for Bassett in 1937, his first professional season.

In 1950 the Nitros changed their name to the Wellsville Senators when they became a farm team of the Charlotte Hornets in the Washington Senators' farm system. The team became the independent Wellsville Rockets in 1951 when their one-year affiliation with the Senators ended. In 1952, the Rockets were affiliated with the St. Louis Browns, before becoming the Wellsville Braves, an affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves.

Lincoln was first represented in organized baseball in 1886 as the Tree Planters in the reorganized original Western League. Lincoln's 19th-century teams played in various leagues between 1886 and 1895. In 1906, Lincoln joined the Class A Western League as the Ducklings (1906), Treeplanters (1907), Railsplitters (1908–13) and Tigers (1914–16). During this time, team nicknames were often unofficially assigned by sportswriters, and The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, published by Baseball America in 2007, lists other nicknames for the Lincoln franchise of the time, including Greenbackers and Antelopes.

The Cedar Rapids Braves were a farm club of the National League’s Milwaukee Braves from 1958 to 1962. The Braves played in the Class A Three-I League from 1958 until that league closed down after the 1961 season. Cedar Rapids then shifted to the Class D Midwest League in 1962 for the city’s final summer as a Braves affiliate. Cedar Rapids won the Three-I League championship in 1958, posting the league’s best record (77-53) before defeating the Davenport DavSox in the league championship series.

Defunct Rockford Aviators Baseball 2002-2015

The Cortland Wagonmakers was the primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Cortland, New York between 1897 and 1905. Corltland teams played as members of the New York State League from 1897 to 1901 and the Empire State League in 1905. Cortland first began minor league baseball play in 1897, when the Cortland Hirelings became charter members of the Class C level New York State League. The Cortland franchise joined the league on June 2, 1897 after the season had already begun.

Defunct Feather River Mudcats Baseball 1999-2000

This is for players of the San Jose Dukes minor league baseball team, who played in the California League from 1891-1892.

Defunct Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs Baseball 1995-2002

The Holland Wooden Shoes were a minor league baseball team based in Holland, Michigan. In 1910 and 1911, the Wooden Shoes played as members of the Class D level Western Michigan League and its successor, the 1911 Michigan State League. The Wooden Shoes hosted home games at the 19th Street Grounds. Minor league baseball began in Holland, Michigan in 1910, when the Holland "Wooden Shoes" became charter members of the reformed four–team Class D level Western Michigan League. Holland joined the Cadillac Chiefs, Muskegon Speed Boys and Traverse City Resorters in beginning league play on May 28, 1910

The Fort Wayne Kekiongas were a professional baseball team, notable for winning the first professional league game on May 4, 1871. Though based in Fort Wayne, they were usually listed in game reports as simply "Kekionga" or "the Kekiongas", per the style of the day. "Fort Wayne Kekiongas" is modern nomenclature. Kekionga - pronounced KEY-key-awn-guh - is the name of Chief Little Turtle's Miami Indian settlement where the St. Joseph River and the St. Marys River join to form the Maumee River. This was the largest settlement of the Miami tribe. General "Mad" Anthony Wayne erected Fort Wayne at that same confluence, and the modern city of Fort Wayne, Indiana grew up around the fort.

The Mobile Bears were an American minor league baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama. The franchise was a member of the old Southern Association, a high-level circuit that folded after the 1961 season. Mobile joined the SA in 1908 as the Sea Gulls, but changed its name to the Bears in 1918, and the nickname stuck. The club played in the Association until July 1931, when it moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. Almost exactly 13 years later, in July 1944, the Bears returned to Mobile when the Knoxville Smokies franchise shifted back from Tennessee. (A club known as the Mobile Shippers competed in the Class B Southeastern League from 1937 to 1942.)

The Lynn Red Sox continued Lynn's long history of play in the New England League. The Red Sox were preceded in the New England League play by the Lynn Lions (1886-1888), Lynn Live Oaks (1901), Lynn Shoemakers (1905–1910, 1913), Lynn Leonardites (1911–1912), Lynn Fighters (1914), Lynn Pirates (1915), Lynn Pipers (1916) and Lynn Papooses (1926–1930). The New England League Lynn teams were preceded in minor league play by the 1877 Lynn Live Oaks, who played as members of the New England Association and the 1884 Lynn team of the Massachusetts State Association.

The Fostoria Red Birds were a minor league baseball team based in Fostoria, Ohio from 1937 to 1941. First known as the Fostoria Cardinals in 1936, Fostoria teams played as exclusively as members of the Class D level Ohio State League and for their entire existence, the franchise played as a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Fostoria hosted minor league home games at Redbird Park.

The Lincoln Links were an American minor league baseball franchise that represented Lincoln, Nebraska, for 18 seasons over a 23-year period (1917–39) during the 20th century. Lincoln was first represented in organized baseball in 1886 as the Tree Planters in the reorganized original Western League. Lincoln's 19th-century teams played in various leagues between 1886 and 1895. In 1906, Lincoln joined the Class A Western League as the Ducklings (1906), Treeplanters (1907), Railsplitters (1908–13) and Tigers (1914–16).

The Albany Rollers were a minor league baseball team based in Albany, Oregon. In 1904, the Rollers became members of the Class D level Oregon State League during the season, hosting home games at the Albany Base Ball Park. The Albany Rollers came into existence when the Vancouver Soldiers were forced to relocate to Albany after a territory dispute with the Pacific Coast League. The "Rollers" moniker corresponds to the timber industry, which was a strong local industry in the era.